I got a cheap Bronco Bass that I want to turn into a Bass VI variant. Since the Bronco has a shorter neck with the bridge pushed farther back than a real Bass VI, though, there isn't room for the standard vibrato system.
My idea is to use a two point setup but instead of the sustain block which reorients the spring force parallel to the strings, just going straight down perpendicular like how the Jazzmaster vibrato does it and retain the stock bridge plate, with modifications.
The forces at work have yet to be determined but hopefully the required spring force would be feasible. The ball ends would be right under the saddle slots like on a Strat so the string lever arm would be about half that of the spring's arm, meaning it would probably need to be about a 90 lb. spring for equilibrium. I could also use dual springs.
Primary concerns are wear at the knife edges, which aren't hardened like on a real system and actually getting a vibrato arm mounted on the small lip available.
Thoughts anyone?